July 27, 2011--With the August 2
deadline for resolution of the debt ceiling negotiations fast
approaching, Tea Party activists staged a "Hold the Line" rally in
Upper Senate Park across from the
Capitol.

(Above)
Herman Cain speaks with reporters prior to the event.
Cain supports "Cut, Cap, Balance" legislation. In a statement he
said, "This should not have been a crisis...President Obama knew that
this 'deadline' was approaching, and
yet he failed to exhibit the necessary leadership to make bold cuts to
our government's out of control spending." Cain had initially
been invited to address the rally, but, as reported by Politico, organizers rescinded the
invitation because of legal concerns.

Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC).

Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT).

JoAnn Abbott, a grandmother from
Dale City, VA, Tom Whitmore, a retired business
executive from Manassas, VA (red shirt), and J.R. "States" Manship as
George Washington are familiar figures at DC-area Tea Party events.

Turnout for the rally
was very modest; an email from American Grassroots Coalition noted that
they had just received the permit for the rally the afternoon before
"at almost 5:00 PM." Nonetheless a respectable number of cameras
and reporters showed
up.